Alpha by Lyra
Life
Drabble Collection Alpha
CXVI
Prompt From Priestess Skye’s Bi-Weekly Challenge
Life
Shizuka watched the miko, this Kagome, carefully, all through the meal. She said nothing when the youkai at the table, even her own Kitsune, used claws and sharp teeth to devour raw meat; her own manners were delicate and precise and he was amused to see her reach across with her napkin and wipe beast-blood from Shippou’s face.
She copied youkai manners, stayed alert to her youkai son, drank youkai wine, and showed only a moment of surprise when she tasted its strength and sweetness. She drank only a single glass, and then stuck to tea; Shizuka shook himself to stop his staring, and retreated into his thoughts.
They were simple, and mostly pleasing; this woman, fragile-seeming though she was, had none of the real frailty that had belonged to the woman on whom the Inu no Taisho had sired his second son. This Kagome hid a great and growing power; this close to her, he could feel the holy aura tingling on his skin, a perpetual warning...not uncomfortable, not pressing, but certainly there. What was more, this immensity of presence seemed completely unconscious. She simply was, this miko; he wondered for a moment what it would be like to meet her in battle, and shuddered.
Terrifying.
Shizuka turned then and glanced along the table’s length at Sesshomaru, grasping in a moment’s glance that some great change was being worked on his lord. There was warmth in his face; when the miko leaned against him, or touched him, it seemed to awaken the promise of a smile.
Through slitted eyes, with careful concentration, Shizuka turned his attention to the power in the room. He saw the flush of his own aura, and that of his sister, both of them crushed into dimness by the gold flux of Sesshomaru’s youki and the great fuchsia flowering of his new mate’s strength.
His eyes went wide then, and the vision faded. Was it possible?
Over their heads beat two waves, two oceans of power, neither giving at all, both curling around each other, coming together like a taijitu, in perfect balance.
He wondered if anyone had noticed but him; was that the reason for the little smile on Yoko’s face? No – she spoke with the miko...
Shizuka realized then that in his distraction he had not even heard the conversations going on around him – between Kagome and Yoko, Rin and Sesshomaru. He hoped that no one had spoken to him, avoided Sesshomaru’s eyes, and looked down the table at the only person not speaking; Shippou.
A Kitsune, and not yet through his first decade, never mind his first century. A Kitsune...and he belongs to that miko. The miko mate of Sesshomaru...now, those are stories would interest me. I wonder...
Plate and cup in hand, Shizuka stood and made his way a few places down, so that he could more easily speak with the kit.
“Kit, what is your name?”
Shippou looked up startled, and then glanced around for guidance, but Rin had gone to stand by Sesshomaru’s side and Kagome was deep in conversation with the one that wanted to serve her.
Nothing for it!
“I’m Shippou, um -”
“You may call me Shizuka, Shippou. You are young yet for formalities.”
“Al-alright. Was there – d’ya want something, then?”
Shizuka only smiled.
“I wondered if you might be interested in telling me a tale, young Shippou. I am interested to know how you come to be associated with my Lady.”
Shippou considered carefully for a moment, and Shizuka felt the kit’s eyes fall heavily upon him. Shippou scowled, tapping his little claws on his elbow – and then he nodded once, sharply.
“Alright. I’ll tell you. I know what you’re trying to do – but I’ll tell you.”
And then Shippou grinned.
“And even better, I won’t tell Kagome on you.”
Shizuka went pale, and found himself suddenly unable to swallow in a dry throat.
“That is – kind of you, Shippou.”
The kit shrugged modestly.
“Yeah, well, the only reason I don’t care is ‘cause I know...and ‘cause I don’t think it matters if you know how I found Kagome. Umm...let’s see...”
~~~
A/N: There we go, a good long one! I found Priestess Skye’s Challenge with many prompts and many good tokens; the word counts are a little higher than I’ve been using so far in Alpha, but we’ll see what happens. And feel free to let me know whether you prefer the shorter or longer chapters; I doubt the difference will have much effect on posting time. Onward, to...the other end of the table! And after that, back to Inuyasha I think :D
Revisions complete! Almost done revising...almost done!
Please Review!